Reciprocating p ropeller for vessels



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s. SNELLENBURG. REGIPROOATING PROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

No. 415,584. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. SNELLENBURG. REGIPROGATING PROPELLER FOR VESSBLS.

No. 415,584. Patented Nov. 19, 1889.

Qfqamzoe nellen mr g Witnesses 51-1 vawf o z r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SNELLENBURG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RECIPROCATING P ROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 415,584, dated November 19, 1889.

Application filed August 13, 1889. $erial No. 820,606- (No model.)

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Reciprocating Propellers for Vessels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

.My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in reciprocating or vibrating propellers for vessels.

The object of the invention is to provide a propelling means for vessels which consists of a sliding or reciprocating frame connected with actuating means-as the piston of an e11- ginethe said frame being mounted on guides and carrying a series of floats o'r paddles which are mounted in the sliding frame to contact with transverse bars or stops carried by vertically-moving bars, said bars engaging with a rod for raising the same, so that the paddles will be permitted to move past the stops when it is desired to reverse the action of the floats or paddles, the whole being mounted in suitable frames secured to the vessel between the keels thereof and also between the twin propellers, as will be'hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 1

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of my improved reciprocating propeller, showing its application to a vessel. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. l is a detail view of one of the paddles or floats.

A refers to the hull of the vessel, which may be constructed in the usual manner, though it is preferably provided with two keels at its rear portion and with twin screws or propellers. In front of. the twin screws or propeller-blades and between the same, in the arch formed in the hull between the. keels, are secured by any suitable means two frames B 13, having open ends and bottom, the front ends of the side walls being inclined, as shown. It is immaterial as to how these frames are secured to the vessel, as they may be built to suit the special construction of the vessel, though it is essential that the supporting-frames should be rigid and provided with vertical sides 13'. These sides pieces,

which in practice are four in number, two

The reciprocating frames 0 are made up of side pieces C, to the outer edges of which are rigidly secured strips 0 and c, the upper and lower edges of which extend in opposite directions to retain in place anti friction rollers cl, upon which the frames 0 slide. The side pieces 0 of the reciprocating frame C are rigidly connected to each other by transverse plates e, e, and f, as well as the crossbars f, upon which the paddles or floats are hinged. The transverse bars f are preferably made of flat or rectangular metal, and their edges are beveled to offer but little resistance to the water, and flat bars with beveled edges can be substituted for the rods ff are employed the rests or stops f may be dispensed with. The floats F ordinarily rest upon the rods or supports f when the propeller is being moved to an operative position, and it will be observed that these rods or supports are located slightly above the plane of the bars f, so that the floats will be held at a proper angle, which is of about one inch to the foot, and will catch against the water, so as to be immediately raised to a ver' tical position when the frames 0 are moved either backward or forward. I

G refers to the vertical bars secured to the sides C by bolts which pass through slots g, and these vertically-moving bars have offsets h, to which are secured transverse rods i, with which the ends of the blades contact. The

upper ends of these vertically-moving bars G are connected by transverse pieces g, upon which are secured straps g and within these straps plays a sliding bar I, supported by means of the depending loops or straps j, adjacent to which the under edge of the bar I is cut away at two different points to provide the recesses 2", which recesses are close to each other to provide a short intermediate space. The horizontally-sliding bar I and vertically-sliding bars G provide a means for reversing the floats, so that the vessel can be propelled either backward or forward. The loops or straps which maintain the bar I in position are beveled or shaped to correspond with the configuration of the recesses i. To reverse the action of the paddles,'but one stroke of the reversing bar or lever is necessary, as by throwing the said lever it will move the bar I to elevate the frame G and permit the blades to pass under the stops 2', aft-er which the frame G drops by reason of the other recess 2" fitting over the loop j, which operation will cause the paddles to exert an opposite pressure upon the water to propel the vessel in an opposite direction. \Vhen desired the sliding bar I can be supported within the loops j at the flat space between the angular recesses 1", which will retain the frame G in an elevated position and allow the paddles to have free movement backward and forward, thus rendering them inoperative. It will be observed that the blades or paddles are very narrow in proportion to their length, and when they .are so shaped they will be thrown quickly in position', and a larger number of paddles may be used than are shown in the drawings. The paddles are provided with loops, as shown in Fig. 4, which form the hinges, so that they can-be readily attached and detached. When in operation one of the sets of paddles may be set to propel the vessel forward, while the other set acts in the reverse direction, which operation will assist in bringing the vessel about.

Heretofore it has been proposed to provide propellers for vesselswhich consist of two or more reciprocating paddles which have either been pivoted centrally or hung upon pivotal supports. Such construction in practice has proved objectionable for many reasons which it is deemed unnecessary to herein mention. It has also been proposed to pivot the floats near their centers and provide stops which engagewith the lower portions of the floats, so that the same floats may be used for propelling the vessel either backward or forward.

In practice I propose to employ a number of floats in each frame or casing arranged in both horizontal and vertical series, and said floats are pivoted at their ends, so that those on the reverse stroke will incline upwardly. By this construction and arrangement many advantages are attained, among which may be mentioned, first, that the blades act quickly to be brought into an operative position; second, should there be any obstructions in the water they will either slide over the floats or contact with the rigid transverse bars, so as not to interfere or obstruct the operation of the paddles; also, by providing a large number of narrow paddles in a vertical series they will have more area and will act more quickly and effectively upon the water, and greater power is obtained from the use of. a series of paddles tlian from one paddle of the same area, and there is less strain upon the engine and greater power developed.

This device is adapted to be used in connection with twin propellers located on each side of the stern-post, and by properly gearing the parts the same engine or motor can be used for operating the reciprocating propellers as is used for rotating the screws.

In order to give a uniform motion to the vessel, two frames are used, one being geared to move forward while the other is moving aft. 7

Having thus-described my inven tion,what I claim is- 1. In a reciprocating propeller for Vessels, the combination of a suitable frame having horizontal guideways, a sliding frame mounted on said guideways and provided with a series of transverse bars upon which are hinged floats or paddles, vei'tically sliding bars carrying transverse rods or stops against which the ends of the blades abut, so as to be held in a vertical position, and a notched bar supported in hangers having V-shaped portions upon which said notches lie for vertically moving said sliding bars, so that the floats may pass under the transverse bars or stops carried thereby, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, ina reciprocating propeller, of a casing having an open bottom and ends, sliding frames carrying a number of paddles or floats arranged in vertical or horizontal series, said floats or paddles be-' in g hinged to rigid cross-bars, bars f fand movable bars carried by vertically-movable bars G, and means for adjusting said bars, the sliding frames being mounted upon interlocking ways having anti-friction rollers, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of two or more sliding 7 frames carrying vertically-adjustable bars having stops thereon, said bars having slots for limiting the vertical movement thereof, a series of hinged paddles carried by the frames, so as to swing upwardly uponv the said pivots, a notched bar I, supported in loops j, said bar passing beneath transverse bars attached to the vertically-slidingbars G, so that said bars G may be raised when the bar I is moved. rearwardly to permit the paddles to swing under the stops 2', substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, With a sliding frame carrying a series of paddles, of a verticallymoving frame G, and a sliding bar I, for operating the frame G, said bar having adjacent to its support two notches to engage with the loops j, so that when the bar I is moved the frame G will be raised and lowered, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the sliding frame carrying a series of hinged paddles and'permanent or immovable stops therefor, of a ver- SAMUEL SNELLENBURG.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES P. BOOTH, S. DESSAUER. 

